Package sealing machine



Feb. 7,1956 A. G. RUSSELL ETAL 2,733,564

PACKAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed Nov. 50 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 52 ll 36 38 7 g 1o 56 7| o 37 74 |O8i ,24 0 a 10/ E a 0 |2--- 3s 0 7 Z 3 s as am 34 2 9 o 26 as t s 98 M 32 8 l 0 Fi I Inventors Francis 8. Casey Robert E. Dal/on Arthur 6. Russell Frank A. Clary, Jr. y \eubm am Afforn ey Feb. 7, 1956 A. G. RUSSELL ETAL PACKAGE SEALING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 30, 1951 Fig. 8

s 00.0 r a m a M856 V341 A h Ceuk bm m m FRAF Attorney Feb. 7, 1956 RUSSELL ETAL 2,733,564

PACKAGE SEALING MACHINE Filed Nov. 30, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventors Francis 5. Casey Arthur 6. Russell 4 Frank A. Clary, Jz

By \flaoamz. Q Ba Me Attorney Feb. 7,1956 AGRUSSELL ETAL PACKAGE SEALING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 50 1951 CLIP SOLENOID CLUTCH SOLENOID Attorney i 2,1 3.5 PAGKAGE SEALING MACHINE G lli it'B ssel a d F ans-Area C y, It, B isftql, Conn an F Robert Eldon Bellini Lawrence, Mass, assignors t W. R. Grace 6;; a corporation of Connect cut sataesspastas, test. eri Na 25 4 7"Clainis. ease-4s freezin Qt refrigera ing h H a heh ur rierp ue Atth s m t n t 'n s dehydration losse On 'pet h1a vs ee,-$fu1 4, d s rih din U-S- Pat n Ne- 37633 te D B nd e s m r m e e! w ch shr n when. xp sed t an l vate t Pe. ire. Shhhk ull e has t in ma e ntee w h the t ed if the Pa kage he b e Prope ly a m- I e i th et may he d te mine by el le hihset e eh e Th s tae h emadethe'p e s h ghly successful in self-service retail meat markets, for the e ewiie piek u the peehase them th open t ee ehde e h h eet? y t th m e ts l mhtieh an ahdlihs As a t ie markets p cka e reta cuts. of ultry, shoulders, butts, smoked rneat meat", chickens, o

and many miscellaneous foodstuffs in such bags.

The machine which is the subject of this invention was esigned to tormsuch aretail package quickly, cheaply easily. It will operate equally wellonmaterials which Shrink and on non-shrinking transparentwrappings which have beenfpnmed into bags. After the food has been placed in the package, it withdraws the air from the package, twists. the neck of the package to form an hermetic seal (for one of the interesting characterisics Qty-these: transparent, impermeable films in. that when they are tightly itwisted upon themselves the seal which formedxby the twist is impermeable to air and. moisture tie-pot), then applies and crimps a sealing band on the twist seal to maintain the sealed condition of the bag, and

finally trims off the excess neck of'the bag beyond the seal. a 1 t t Althoughrthevarious portions of the machine cooperate to prqduce the sealed and trimmed package of the type i which has been described, the machine can best b under stoodby reference to the drawings and by considering its us functions separately. Y Y

Description of figures Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine, I Figure 2' is a sectio h and end View of the nozzle.

Figure 3 isa front elevation of the, clip feed mechanism. Figure lie a side view of the head in its open position. Figure5 is a side view of the head in its closed or crimping position.

. #Figu-re 6 is a transverse cross section of a portion of the cli-pwl-reel and the track on the line 66 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a transverse cross section of a portion of the clip wheel and the track on the line 7- -7 of Figure 3,

l Figure 8 is a transverse cross section ofthet'r'ack and clip spr-ing1on-th'line88 of'Figurefi; v,

Fig re 9 is-a side elevation of the-head and arm in its he acted position. i I

liernard Casey, Concord, and

read thes t e h s s hin a d r nspa n h a ua h er h e hehu e .1 is e' ine d es ih- Figure 14 e ramm eeehtet en tthe elh eh e: h hhhi he he h fteh Figure- 15 is a diagrammatic represent fqet tm'sgindle an integral head-stock portion 11, and supporting flame 12, for theworkwtabler. The hoilow'spindle 13, a tube which is open at both ends, rotates in the head-stock bearings 14, 15, 16. It is driven by the friction faced pulley 1.7 which is fixed to the spindle1 3 and may be engaged. and disengaged with the power means (not shQW l) by the ovement of the pedal 18 which by turnia the work shaft 1 9 and moving :the arm" 21 together withthe push-rod Z2. and crank arm 23 moves the face 25 .of; the --b.1l; into or out of contact with theface of pulley 17; R trial 18 is raised by the push spring 20. V- belt 24 runs between pulley g5, fixed to the drive shaft 26 and pulley 27 which is iournaled on the crank arm 23.

A ire tieti esraeha n pump usually built into the 30 bee e e hihe the. m ehine m also be .W-y t stalled: v h in 111 Order to cleaply the opera 've parts of this machine, Hm P1 55 12 a d the driv lmot r have no b en ehewa-e heetheir pes tia ehsea es the pe p Vae meehti i 2 11 was s ed te a u m nk 2 e in on of the vacuum-1 tank i ne .only to minimize flu .uht the but to: trap a y small particles may be drawn intothe vnozzle. The tank held 9% t nk hea 2 y toggle h We.) 5 t th cylinder may be a y ,lde a the end at the p e a The eeted by eeh h i 33 t th acuum valv ,y t mis eehn e hro h e du 35 tevacuum beatin 6-: Th e s e 3719 th h Stock 11 eem'es ea watq r te ie he 8 e wh h t e twoflbeal'ing 1' an it a re fitted r specti ly-h at the ace and the base.

ruhber stopper 71 seated in the spindle Whhih h 1 9.38 3. an betwe n th b n 15 and there is anannplar space. Since the. conduit 35 and the wall of the spindleis drilled at this point with a number of holes; air'rnay be drawn from. the nozzle through. the holes into the reduced pressure area of the space between the bearings and down throughthe vacuum conduit while the spindle isrotating. 7

The actual nozzle 41 (shown. indetail in Figure 2) is he t the s ze ef'e d i sh peder mu h l-ik a 37 mm.

projectile. The cylindrical: portion is machined fora sliding fit in the hereof the vacuum spindle 13. Inthe area which an: artiilerynian wouldcall the bourrelet, a

sern' circular channel 45,,is. cut which receives and holds a toroidal spring .4 6. Holes 4;2t-,,4 z leading into the closed bore 5,3 are drilled insthe ogive portion. Additionally,

holes 44 54 are drilledthrough the floor of channel. 45 i The machine comprisesaworle table 10 provided with e, t n hand end (of the spindle 1s leading from the vacuum valveis connected into this space cut in the nozzle. The screw, together with the slot, prevents the nozzle from being's'et so far to the right that it will interfere with the motion of the crimping head.

. The vacuum valve 34is adjusted so that in the off position a small amount of air is always drawn through the nozzle. When a bag is placedover thenozzle and lightly held against the spindle, this small flow of air removes sufficient air from the neck of the bag so that the bag is drawn down between the individual turns of the helix and is uniformly gathered about the spindle. Air exhausted through holes 4444 helps in pulling the bag material into the turns in the spring. This'action insures that the amount of material which is drawn into each fiute which the spring forms in the neck of the bag is relatively uniform and a twisted, ropelike,uniform seal is produced when the nozzle is later rotated. A cylindrical member with radial slots would be equally effective in forming the flutes in the neck, but the spring is preferable because it is easy to clean and sterilize. I

The vacuumvalve 34 is operated by a cable attached to arm 21. It is adjusted sothat it is just cracked open when the foot pedal 18 is fully raised.

Relatively uniform flutes and twist of the neck can be secured without the flute-forming spring or a prelim inarywithdrawal ofair from the neck, but the operator must start the nozzle rotating slowly and grip and release the neck about the nozzle alternately to prevent bunching. This would require more attention and coordination than should be required from a machine operator.

Clip feed s An upward extension 47 of the work table forms an inclined back plate which supports the clip feeding assembly, generally indicated at 48. The clips 30 used .in this machine may be generally described as U-shaped,

but instead of a continuous curve appearing at the base of the U, the base is formed with two angularly disposed portions giving the configuration of a building with a hip-roof to the open clip. The arms of the clip may :be parallel or may be slightly inclined toward each other.

Each arm is provided with an inwardly embossed portion near its end which is intended to engage the track way of this machine. The clips are strung on a carrier tape which is preferably formed of relatively stiff, resilient paper and is wider than the greatest distance between the arms of the clip. The tape is assembled into the aperture of the clip so that its edges are in frictional engagement with the inner surfaces of the arms; and

since the tape is wider than the distance between the arms, it is maintained transversely bowed between the arms. The assembl'ed'clips are preferably formed into a roll with the arms directed outwardly radially. This position prevents the clips from binding while in the roll or when being unrolled. Both the clip and the assembly of clips on the carrier tape were developed independently especially for use in this machine. in itself forms part of the present application.

.A roll of clips is placed on the hub 49 much as a reelof motion picture film is placed on a projector spindle. A leader, merely an extension of the paper strip 50 on which the clips are strung, is threaded beneath the clip wheel 51, over the clip retainer 52, over the separator block 53, and beneath the clip feed pawls 54 and 55. The paper strip is led into the elbow 56 which conducts the strip to the'rear of the machine.

As the clips pass beneath the wheel, they engage the feedtrack 58. The cross section of the track changes progressively from practically a flat strip at the line'66 to the section shown at 8-8 (see Figures 6, 7 and 8). Beyond the line 7-7, the track 58 is twisted one-quarter revolution, shown at 59, so that the clips, which initially face upwardly, slide off feed track 58 with their open ends facing the operator.

The periphery of the clip wheel 51 is shown in' cross section in Figures 6 and 7. The wheel is machined to Neither the figures carry indented bosses 62-62 adjacent their open ends. The paper strip 50 just fits be ween the two upstanding walls of the clip and is wider than the distance between the inner face of the bosses. As the contourcf the track changes, as shown in the cross section figures, tongue 61 cups the paper strip by pushing it into the upper, concave surface of the track. The arched paper strip, now narrower than the space between the bosses, is'pulled free of the clip, but by this time the clips engage the outer margins 63 63 of the'track and cannot fall off. j

Leaf spring 57, shown in section in Figure 8 and which lies just behind the track, forces the clip against track 58 and into the proper position to be received by the crimping head 74. i

The clip advance mechanism, generally indicated at 70, comprises a pull-down solenoid 64, pull spring 65, rocker arm 66 journale'd to the back plate 47 at 67, pull-up spring 68, andpawl arm 69. Arm 69 is rigidly fixed to arm 66 so that when the solenoid 64 is energized, pawl 54 is pushed toward the right dragging with it the paper tape. When the switch is released, pull-up spring 68 raises the arm together with the solenoid armature and swings the pawl arm-69 back to the left. On the return stroke, the pawl 54 lifts slightly against the resistance of the pawl spring 72. 'Pawl 55 is a duplicate of the pawl 54, but is journaled to the back plate 47. It prevents the paper from being pushed backwards on the return stroke of pawl 54. At each pull of the solenoid 64 one clip is pushed off the track and into the nest of the crimping head 74 which is in position to receive the clip.

The clip advance mechanism can be operated mechanically, i. e., by a pedal or pull lever, but electrical operation is preferred; it is more compact and requires no separate act of the operator to control the movement of the 'clips.

- Clip crimper The crimping head, generally indicated at 74, is supported on arm 75 in such a manner that it may be swung transversely of the table 10. The head comprises the casingr76 (Figures 4 and 5) in which crimping jaws 77 and 78 are journaled. The forward or crimping end of the jaws approach each other when the head is in its advanced position and when the cam faces 79 and 81 of the plunger 82 engage the rear end of the jaws.

When the head is in its rear position, the jaws 77 and 78 are separated and are nearly horizontal. The floating punch 83 of the plunger 82 is then pushed forward by the spring 84 so that a nest is formed from these threeparts which is adapted to receive a clip 60. The movement of punch 83 is limited by pin which slides in short slots cut in the casing and the cover plate. After the head has moved in o its forward position, the jaws 77 and 78 begin to close, but although the jaws move toward the axis of the head, they also swing towards its rear, thus forcing the clip backwards against the punch 83 which, inturn, compresses spring 84. The effect of this rearward movement is to form the base portion of the clip into a horseshoe which loosely surrounds the twisted neck of the package. The continuing movement of the jaws 77 and 78 bends the arms of the clip still further, but then the plunger 82 has already bottomed on the punch 83. The combined movement of the punch and the jaws bends the arms until they butt against each other and lie transversely to the axis of the plunger. Also, the'base of the clip is deformed into a flattened, continuous curve,

It appears necessary in closing a twisted, ropelike but elastic'neck to surround a substantial part of the swans-a4 described prevents cutting because, astthe armsmare bent inwardly, the base is arched to receive the full twisted neck. Then the arms .are bent more closely'together enclosing the neck within the clip, and finally the clip ends are butted end to end as the arehedbase is flattened by: the punch. I

Jaws 77 and 78 are chamfered at -85a-85'so that, when the jaws arehorizontal, the small recesses form the forward wall of the clip receiving nest. The side wall of the chainfer forms one wall of a projection 86 :which, as the jaws close, rolls into the hollow of the upset boss .62 of the clip. Positively-interfitting the clip and the jaws in this manner before pressureis applied by the punch 83 holds the clip in position and prevents the clip from being twisted in closing. This, otherwise, could :oecur, since theneck of the package is not only tightly =twisted," but is quite elasticand squirms when compressed. When the pressure applied to plunger 82 is relaxed, leaf spring 80 force plunger 82 backwardsand open jaws 17 78.-

' Drive Theishead is driven by an array of'cams :87, 88 and 89 -onthe counter-shaft 91 which receives its power through he'lts 'runningover a pulley on the main shaft26 and over a' flywheel pulley 92 attached to the cam shaft 91. "The flywheel is: engaged and disengaged on the cam shaft throughia single revolution clutch 93 which is-tripped by thepull of solenoid 94. This clutch con trols-all mo-tions of the head. Its stop pin 95 is set to disengage" the clutch'whenthehead is in its retracted position. I

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 illustratethe various poisitions -of thehead as the cam shaft 91 turns. The dotted outline iu3Figu1-e'9 shows the relativewmovement of the head 74-. The solid outline shows the-head inlits retracted position into which it has been forced ,by the cam 8 7 whic'h engages the cam follower 96 on arm 75. In Figure 1-0, cam 87 has now turned so that the spring 97 has pulled the head into its forward position. In figure '11, the crimping jaw cam 88 has forced the plunger arm 98 backwards, and the motion of thisarm working through the die spring 99 and lveflinkage 101 fhaspushed in the plunger 82 and crirnped the clip. Arm 98 and knife arm 111 are journaled on shaft 100. In

' t Figure 12, the knife cam 89'working on a substantially identical arm 111, die spring 109 and lever linkage 113, hasoperated the knife 12 which trims 01f the excess portionof the ,bag. The'lower blade 110 of thefknifeis attached to the lower crimping jaw 78. As the earn shaft '9 s u her, c m for es thelheada ain into its r ra po i ionr W 7 S fety me h ni ms ar essent al aud lare shown in the plunger and knifelevers 101 and 113, respectively. If. the knife attempts to bite a clip, for example, die springr109 compresses while the cam 89 eomple'tesits .circle. Die spring 99 has, in addition to its safety function, the important duty of adjusting the crimping to bulky or tothin twist seals without attention on the part ,of the operator. If a bulky twist is put into the: clip, the crimping jaws cannot close the whole way; nevertheless, the crimping operation is'completed, because the ditference in movement is taken :up by the die spring 99. Were the head advanced by the thrust of a cam, its force could crush an operators hand or destroy a package of food if the package slipped or if the operator were careless. But by pulling the headforward to :its clip closing position byl the pull ofa spring, this spring can be made strong enough to move the arm and keep the cam follower in contact with the cam and yet be weak enough so that an operator would not 'beseriously injured by the movement of thehead.

. ir n 7 The Wiring .is simple (see Figure 13) From the mains 73, power is led through the double pole switch 10.8 to the .drive motor 112 and vacuum pump motor 116. When :the switch is ON, both motors run-continuously. .A tap carries the current to axsingleipole double throw normally closed l microswitch' 118.1[The current passes through thevnormally clesed switch leaf "1.19 and to the normally opensingle .pole microswitch 12$. The other. side of theline leadstothe clip sole- IlOlid 121 and-from the solenoid to the-switch 120. The switched point122 of switch 118 is .conneeteid to-finger switch 123, a normally open S. P. switch, which is located on theback support panel. The other side of the'line is run through the clutch solenoid94 to the ,other pole of the finger switch 123. Both microswitchesare actuated bylthe arm .21. Mieroswitch 120 closes first andso feeds ,aelip intolthehead; then as the pedal is further depressed switch 1-1-8, ct 1ts;out clip feedsolenoid 121 and Figures 14 and 15. First, s,t0p am! .1113 .is .pinht dqto the armature of the solenoid 94 through the swinging link 14. ltis pulledput ot. the path of the stop pin 95 on the clutch when the solenoid is energige d. At the same time, its motion throws the safety stop 105 into the path off 'the stop pin so that, if the switch that controls-the solenoid is. held. down longer .than necessary, the clutch iswnevertheless disengaged .at. the completion of one revoilutiom Second, aswinging link106 'is pinned ton the '75, :as diagrammatically shown in Figures 14 and 1-5,

p and its outer ,end is pinned to a swinging stop block As the head advances, the-point of connection between the arm 75 and the .swingingfllink moves to the 'left and .the full movement is sufficient to move'the stop block .outofthe path of the stop pin on the clutch.

However, :if the head has-not reac'hed its forward :posiftion, the stop block remains -in -t-he path of the stoppin 95. Driving means are thus disconnected and neither the crimping nor the cutting operation can take place if anything interferes with the full forward movement of the head. Third, die springs 99 and 109 are inter posed between the cam follower arms 98 and 111 and switches the circuit through the finger switch 123. When the finger switch is touched, the head moves forward, butibgth ,thepedal .,-a.nd the finger switch must be depressed simultaneously. Otherwise the circuit through the i l-l tsh solenoid 94 zvvill not be establishedpand the head remains in its rearward position.

I :E twat-h oper t r adjusts the height of the product ta e 9 I9 m ke he twist ,atthe axis-of the package and hrin g it in line with the vacuum nozzle. For ex! ample, for hamsathe product table must be adjustedto .g flhi r Pos tion than for broiler chickens. Locking screw holds the-product table in its adjusted Position. :NQXL the position .of the nozzle is adjusted by sliding .thQhDZZJte inonoutof the hollowspindle. For example, the ozzle is slid back towards the head stock-tor hams an 'bnoughttorsvard .-for lightqbroilersh The reason is that a hamhag is heavy and requires a longtwist, while .a bnoilerxbag. is lighter.

Next, the operator takes the food product'which has already been placed in thezbag, places it on -the-product table, andthen pulls the neck of the bag over the nozzle. .Ttheneck of the bag *is grasped lightly about thespind le :by the operatoris left 'hand. *Because of the slight flow at the. left end with a rubber stopper. to Ifill a food bag with hot soapy water, first replacing so that current is switched by the microswitch 118 from :the clip feed circuit to the clutch solenoid circuit, but

is interrupted by the open circuit finger switch 123.

When the operator touches the finger switch with the left hand, still depressing pedal 18 slightly, the clutch is tripped and the head advances, crimping the band about thetwisted neck. Then the knife closes the trims off the excess length of the neck.

Cleaning this, the nozzle-41 is removed from the spindle 13, the

spring 46 is sprung off from thenozzle, and these parts aresterilized by washing or boiling. The rubber stopper 71 is removed fromthe'left-hand end. of the spindle and the spindle is cleaned by ramming a soapy swab through the bore. Toggle latches on the vacuum tank 29 are .opened and the cylinder 31 with-its trapped waste is removed for cleaning and sterilizing. The vacuum conduit and. valve may be sterilized by flowing hot water through the system, first closing the bore of the spindle Or it is practicable the rubber stopper and the vacuum cylinder, turn on the machine, and suck the cleaning solution from the bag down into thevacuum tank. All surfaces of the machine which .come. in contact with the food are either enameled iron or stainless steel so that they may be kept clean and sterile.

Experience with the machine has indicated that operators. can, after three weeks of experience, reach the productionrate of '5 to 7 smoked hams averaging be tween 12 and 18 lbs. weight per minute; turkeys of 9 lbs. and less, 6 to-8 per minute; roasting chickens, 6 to 8 per minute; and ducklings weighing from 6 to 8 lbs., to 7 per minute.

We claim:

,1. A machine for evacuating flexible food containers, twisting the neck of said container and applying a sealretaining clip thereto comprising in combination a horizontal nozzle, means for withdrawing air through the nozzle, means to retain the neck in close contact with the nozzle, power means to rotate the nozzle and thereby twist the neck of the container, means to apply a clip to the twisted neck including a clip applying head, means to feed clipsto the head, means to reciprocate the clip applyinghead into and out of engagement with the twisted neck and means including opposed clip crimping jaws in said clip applying head to crimp the clip.

- 2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the means to reciprocate the clip applying head comprise a pull spring adapted to pull the head into its neck engaging position, cam driven means arranged to return the head to its re tracted position, clutch connected power means to drive the cam, means to disengage the clutch as the head reaches its retractedposition, and separate means to disengage the its forward position. 1

3.. In a machine for evacuating flexible, air impermeable, filled food bags and for forming twisted neck seals on the bags, a vacuum nozzle having a hollow bore, spaced radial projections surrounding the nozzle and extending outwardlytherefrom, means for drawing'a slight flow of air through said nozzle to collapse the wall of the neck of the bag over said projections to form relatively uniform flutes in the neck of the bag, means for drawing a greaterfiow of air through said nozzle to evacuate the bag and means clutch upon its re-engagement unless the head reaches z :4. A machine for applying seal retaining clips to the twisted. neck of bagsiricluding rotating power means, an arm adapted to reciprocate normal to the axis of the neck, one end of said arm terminating in a clip applying and crimping head adapted, when in its forward position, to engage the neck, spring means to urge the arm to its forward position, means including opposed clip crimping jaws in said clip applying head to .crimp the clip, means including a knife in said clip applying head to sever the excess portion of the'neck of the bag, a cam shaft, an array of cams on said shaft, one of said cams controlling the position of the arm by its engagement with a cam follower on said arm, a clutch adapted to connect the cam shaft with the rotating power means, another of said cams actuating the opposed crimping jaws, still another of said cams actuating the knife, a clutch-engaging trip, and clutch throwout means connected to the arm adapted to stop the revolution of the cams by disengaging the power means unless the head has been pulled into its forward position by the spring.

5. A machine for evacuating flexible food containers, twisting the neck of said container and applying a sealretaining clip thereto comprising in combination a horizontal nozzle, means for withdrawing air through the nozzle, means to retain the neck in close contact with the nozzle, power means to rotate the nozzle and thereby twist the neck of the container, means to, apply a clip to the twisted neck including a clip applying head, means to feed clips to the head, means to reciprocate theclip applying head into and out of engagement with the twisted neck, means including opposed clip crimping jaws in said clip applying head to crimp the clip, and means including a knife in said clip applying head to sever the excess portion of the neck of the bag. V

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5 in which the means to reciprocate the clip applying head comprise a pull spring adapted to pull the neck into its neck-engaging position,,cam driven means arranged to actuate the clip crimping jaws, cam driven means arranged to actuate the knife, cam driven means to return the head to its retracted position, common clutch connected power means to drive the several cams, means to disengage the clutch as the head reaches its retracted position, and separate means to disengage the clutch upon its re-engagement unless the head reaches its forward position. 7. A machine as claimed in claim 5 having a vacuum nozzle with a hollow bore, spaced radial projections surrounding the nozzle and extending outwardly therefrom, means for drawing a slight flow of air through said nozzle to collapse the wall of the neck of the bag over said projections to form relatively uniform flutes in the neck of the bag, and means for drawing a greater flow of air through said nozzle to evacuate the bag.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,485,187

Ford Apr. 29, 1952 

